Region: Securing a driver's license time-consuming, costly

For teenagers, earning a driver's license is the ultimate mark of independence. But getting behind the wheel at 16 can be a time-consuming and expensive endeavor.

On the steps of Framingham High School, juniors Hodan Gudal and Kayla Claxton were waiting for their driving instructor to pick them up after the first day of school on Wednesday.

Gudal waited a few months before she got her learner's permit while Claxton got it right after she turned 16.

“It’s just a whole new level of freedom,” said Claxton.

Despite her eagerness to drive, Claxton has a lot of work to do. She is splitting her time between school, driving lessons and getting a job to save enough money to pay for a car and insurance.

According to a 2013 report commissioned by InsuranceQuotes.com, an online insurance database, Massachusetts has one of the lowest car insurance increases for teen drivers in the country. The average family will see a 66-percent increase in their insurance after adding a teen driver, compared to Arkansas which sees a 116-percent hike.

But the state still has hefty drivers education requirements.

In Massachusetts, teens are required to have 30 hours of classroom instruction, 12 hours of on-the-road lessons and six hours of driving observation. Parents must also take a two-hour class.

Teenagers can start taking their classroom instruction when they’re 15 years and nine months. At 16, teens are eligible to get a learner's permit, which involves taking a 25-question test. They can only start the driving and observation lessons after getting a learner's permit.

Regardless of driving requirements, teens are only eligible for a road test at 16 and a half. Currently the average wait time to schedule a road test at the Registry of Motor Vehicles is six weeks.

Bill Anderson, who runs Anderson’s Driving School in Framingham says his students take between one month and one year to finish their driving requirements, depending on how well they plan ahead. The summer is the busiest time for booking classes while the demand slows down in the winter, he said.

Driver's ed at Anderson’s costs $780 plus a $15 registration fee.

The CMSC Auto School, which is run under the Central Massachusetts Safety Council, has multiple driving schools across the state including offices in Milford and Northborough. That school charges $850.

For many parents those prices are a wake-up call.

“I was shocked by the price when I found out how much it was going to cost,” said C.C. Chapman of Milford. His son, Dylan, is turning 16 soon and getting ready to take driver's ed. He’s looking at a $1,000 price tag for his son's lessons.

Anderson said he had to nearly double his fees after the state upped the driving requirement from six hours to 12 hours. He has also raised his fees to accommodate insurance and fuel costs. CMSC also had to double its fees to accommodate the extra driving hours, but has charged the same amount since 2007.

Page 2 of 2 - Despite the costs, Anderson’s hasn’t seen a dip in student enrollment.

“Our numbers are increasing. There are kids turning 16 every day,” said Anderson.

CMSC’s numbers told a different story.

Three years ago, the driving school had more than 1,500 students statewide. This year, that number has been closer to 1,420, according to Tim Cooney, president of CMSC Auto School.

“Kids are saying, ‘I’ll just wait until I’m 18,’” said Cooney, who sees this as a negative trend.

“I think that’s going to create poor drivers.”

While Chapman was surprised by driving school costs, he believes the classes are important for his son’s safety.

“I’m all for the regulations.”

Chapman, who grew up in New Hampshire, recalled taking classes through his high school, a concept that is less common today.

Some driving schools partner with area high schools to offer a discounted rate. CMSC charges $650 for classes held at high schools including Shrewsbury and Westborough, according to its website.

Anamika Roy can be reached at 508-626-3957 or aroy@wickedlocal.com. Follow her on Twitter @anamikroy.